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Vitamin D levels should be closely monitored
Date: 2013-01-17 00:00:00

According to Shira Miller, M.D., Founder and Medical Director of The Integrative Center for Health & Wellness, many people are unaware that they have a vitamin D deficiency, which can result in an array of health issues. That is why it is important to frequently get your vitamin D levels tested.

Vitamin D is produced in skin exposed to sunlight. While spending most of the time indoors or wearing sunscreen can inhibit natural vitamin D production, Miller notes on her website that geographic location can play a role in the effectiveness of sun exposure. During the winter, in areas that are at least 40 degrees north of the equator, such as Portland, Oregon, Chicago and Boston, the sun's UVB rays are filtered by the atmosphere and people are unable to produce vitamin D.

Miller suggests taking oral supplements and safely using tanning beds, which provide UVB. Having a vitamin D deficiency can lead to a myriad of health problems, ranging from autoimmune diseases, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and muscle aches, to cancer in the breast, prostate, colon and other parts of the body. She also notes that cesarean delivery, fatigue, insomnia and influenza can result from a vitamin D deficiency.

According to Miller, people cannot tell on their own if they have low levels of vitamin D, which is why it's important to obtain a blood test, no matter how much time is spent outside.

The risk of rickets... Full Story

Want to get healthier? Consider eating more avocado
Date: 2013-02-22 00:00:00

Lowering cholesterol levels and following a heart-healthy lifestyle aren't always easy, which is why people should regularly get blood tests to help make sure they are on the the right path. However, sometimes boosting wellness can be as simple as adding one particular food to your diet. For example, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently determined that people who consume avocados are healthier than those who do not.

Researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to come to their conclusions. According to their findings, adding avocados to a diet could be a simple way for people to get more nutrients into their diet while simultaneously helping to lower their weight and increase the amount of "good" cholesterol in their body.

Time for more avocado... Full Story

Obese individuals should test their vitamin D levels
Date: 2013-03-05 00:00:00

While everybody should get regular blood tests and lab tests to screen for diseases or abnormalities, some people should also be making sure that they have proper levels of specific vitamins and minerals as well. For example, people who live in northern parts of the U.S. where there isn't a lot of sunlight during the colder months should get tested to see if they have healthy vitamin D levels. According to a recent study conducted by researchers from University College London Institute of Child Health, obese individuals may also want to get their vitamin D levels assessed.

Researchers discovered that obesity may lead to vitamin D deficiency, which is why people who are overweight should get lab tests to ensure that they have enough of this important vitamin in their system.

Obesity and vitamin D ... Full Story

Vitamin D may help fight diabetes in obese kids
Date: 2013-03-26 00:00:00

Blood tests don't just screen for harmful substances in the body, they also determine if individuals have healthy levels of important nutrients, like vitamin D. Children, in particular, may need to have their vitamin D levels tested. According to a study conducted by the University of Mississippi, vitamin D may help obese children and teens stave off diabetes, a growing concern in the U.S.

Researchers explained that the findings suggest that vitamin D supplements may help young people control their blood sugar levels, which can help keep them from developing type 2 diabetes.

Impressive results... Full Story

Want strong muscles? Check your vitamin D levels
Date: 2013-04-05 00:00:00

People who hit the gym often but don't seem to have enough energy during their workout or the muscle strength they're looking for may want to get lab tests to check their vitamin D levels. According to recent research from Newcastle University, vitamin D is the key to getting muscles to work efficiently and for increasing energy levels. Scientists found that muscle function appears to improve when people take vitamin D supplements.

To come to their conclusions, researchers used MRI scans to measure the muscle response to exercise for 12 study participants, all of whom had a severe vitamin D deficiency at the start of the trial.

Supplements offered a solution... Full Story

Could Kevin Wade have been vitamin D deficient?
Date: 2013-04-02 00:00:00

On Sunday, Mar. 31, Kevin Ware, a sophomore at the University of Louisville and a guard on the basketball team, experienced a horrific injury when he fractured his tibia during a basketball game. Most news sources described the event as a "freak accident" and talked about how rare it is for such an injury to occur. However, a recent article published by Forbes magazine suggests that perhaps Ware could have been spared from experiencing this problem if he had been getting enough vitamin D and taking blood tests to make sure he had adequate levels of the nutrient.

The news source cited an article published by ABC News which quoted Tim Hewett, director of sports medicine research at Ohio State University, who said that Ware's diet may have been deficient in vitamin D and calcium, leading to more porous bones. That mixed with the constant pressure Ware put on his joints as an athlete may have created small stress fractures that eventually spread or became worse.

A widespread disparity ... Full Story

Vitamin D: The rock star vitamin
Date: 2013-04-10 00:00:00

While most people understand that they should get blood tests or lab tests to help screen for any serious diseases, they may not understand that they also need these tests to make sure they are getting enough vitamins and minerals. For example, it's important to have enough iron and calcium, and it's very crucial for people to learn their vitamin D levels. This important vitamin has been hailed as a rock star in the healthcare community for the past few years, as studies continue to show how important it is.

Recently, Science News published an article with a quick overview of all of the important studies that have been conducted in the past year that show just how key vitamin D is to overall health.

A very important nutrient ... Full Story

Mushrooms may be just as effective as vitamin D supplements
Date: 2013-05-07 00:00:00

Now that the dark days of winter are over, people should consider getting their vitamin D levels checked. In the colder months when the sun is not out often, people need regular lab tests to make sure that they are getting sufficient amounts of this important nutrient, which the body produces in response to sun exposure. Individuals who use sunscreen in the summer to protect their skin should also check their vitamin D levels, since they may be blocking both the sun's rays and this vitamin with their SPF 30.

Those who do discover that they need more vitamin D should add more mushrooms to their diet. According to a recent study conducted by researchers from the Boston University Medical Center, eating mushrooms containing vitamin D2 can be just as effective at helping people keep healthy vitamin D levels as taking a supplement.

A simple and natural solution... Full Story

Are you getting enough vitamin D?
Date: 2013-09-27 00:00:00

Vitamin D is essential to the health of your bones, heart and immune system, yet many people do not get enough of this essential vitamin. Luckily, it is easy to get more vitamin D once a blood test has confirmed low levels, so many people may want to find out more about how this nutrient affects them.

Benefits of vitamin D... Full Story

Vitamin D supplements may not cause kidney stones
Date: 2013-10-24 00:00:00

Vitamin D supplements have been linked to kidney stones in the past, but a new study suggests otherwise. The study was conducted by the University of California, San Diego Health Sciences and published in the American Journal of Public Health. For those who have a vitamin D deficiency diagnosed from a lab test online, supplements may be a good source of the nutrient.

Vitamin D and kidney stones... Full Story